The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center.

More than 250 equine industry representatives attended the celebration dinner in the Woodford Reserve Room at Kroger Field. Stuart Brown, chair of the Gluck Equine Research Foundation and Hagyard Equine Medical Institute veterinarian, hosted the program honoring Peter Timoney, Gluck Center professor, for his lifelong contributions to equine infectious disease research.

“This evening was an exciting opportunity to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this unique program. Coupled with the recognition of the distinguished career of my colleague, Dr. Peter Timoney, through a gift by Mr. Ted Bassett, this was truly a night not to be missed by anyone in our industry that has played a part in the successful legacy of this institution,” Brown said.

Additionally, more than 100 people attended the 30th anniversary research seminar, luncheon and open house at the Gluck Center. The seminar featured the inaugural Teri Lear Memorial Lecture, given by frequent research collaborator and friend Terje Raudsepp, associate professor from Texas A&M University’s Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Lear was an equine genetics research and associate professor at the Gluck Center.

“I was proud to be on hand as we celebrated generations of researchers dedicated to the horse and particularly gratified that our audience was made up of families from our equine industry representing several generations of support to the Gluck Center,” said Dean Nancy Cox. “The support and focus from this event positions us well to further enhance our service to and partnership with the equine industry.”

The center opened its doors June 5, 1987, with a promise to fulfill Thoroughbred breeder and entrepreneur Maxwell Gluck’s legacy of furthering the UK Department of Veterinary Sciences’ research and distinguished service to the equine industry.

The mission of the Gluck Center, a UK Ag Equine program in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, is scientific discovery, education and dissemination of knowledge for the benefit of the health and well-being of horses. The Gluck Center faculty conducts equine research in seven targeted areas: genetics and genomics, immunology, infectious diseases, musculoskeletal science, parasitology, pharmacology/toxicology and reproductive health. Their continuing efforts build upon a tradition of excellence in equine research dating back to 1915.

For more information on the Gluck Center, visit http://gluck.ca.uky.edu.